Method and means for fastening nonmetallic elements to metal



Dec. 1, 1931.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR FASTENING NONMETALLIC ELEMENTS TO METAL Filed March 21, 1929 w. v. HERSHEY 1,834,706

gwuwnioz Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE WILLARD V. HERSHEY, OF FREMONT, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR TO THE SCHAAF G: GOOD COMPANY, OF FREMONT, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METHOD AND MEANS FOR FASTENING NONMETALLIC ELEMENTS TO METAL Application filed March 21, 1929. Serial No. 348,914.

This invention relates to the fastening of non-metallic elements to metal, with special reference to the manufacture of manicuring and toilet articles, or other similar articles having a metallic bodyv portion with a covering of celluloid or analagous material.

In the manufacture of nail files, for example, it has long been customary to form the file portion with an integral extension having flat faces to which thin scales of celluloid or equivalent material are secured to constitute ahandle.

Scales have been produced for this purpose in excellent imitation of mother of pearl and in other very attractive styles. It has been impossible, however, to produce a cement which will insure a satisfactory bond between the scales and the metal, and rivets or similar securing means are not only more costly, but are unsatisfactory in appearance.

In an endeavor to overcome these objectionsit has heretofore been proposed to form holes through the metallic portion of the handle and to fill these holes with cement or with solid inserts of the same material as the scales, so that in the region of such holes, the

cement will directly unite two surfaces which are both of celluloid or equivalent material, and will thereby constitute a stronger bond than where the metal is interposed between them.

Such methods have also proved unsatisfactory for various reasons. They not only add considerably to the cost of manufacture, but the drying or setting of the cement in the region of the holes sets up greater stress in those regions than elsewhere not only resulting in unsightly depressions in the scale material, which is quite soft, but causes a 40 tendency for the scales'to peel or curl up at the edges where they are less securely held.

VVit-h the above conditions in mind, the present invention has been perfected with the object of avoiding the objections and difficulties above described, and providing an article in which the scales are held most securely at points around the edges thereof. Another advantage resulting from my invention, which. is of the utmost importance in articles of this kind, is the fact that the cost of manufacture is materially less than where the solid inserts are used, as well as producing far better results.

My invention will be more specifically described in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating one of the articles which may be made in accordance therewith.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of a nail file constructed in accordance with the invention, a 50 portion of the handle being broken away.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating portions of the handle before they are cemented together.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the handle completed.

In the article illustrated herein, the file 5 is formed with anintegral extension 6, which constitutes a handle portion and which is usually recessed as at 7 to form a finger hold. The metallic handle portion 6 has flat faces which are adapted to be covered with thin scales 8 of celluloid or similar material. These scales may be made'to imitate mother of pearl or in various other attractive colors and designs.

The chief problem which arises in connection with the manufacture of articles of this nature is due to the fact that no cement has been produced which will establish a satisfactory bondbetween the celluloid and the metal. Without some other means for securing the scales,-the slightest force will sometimes cause the scales to peel off. The formation of holes through the body portion 6 and the bonding of the scales 8 through such holes, either by rivets, cement, or by the use of solid inserts of celluloid cemented to the inner faces of the scales, has roven unsatis- '90 factory for various reasons a ove explained.

In order to overcome these difliculties and to satisfactorily secure the scales to the body portion 6, particularly along the edges thereof, excellent results have been obtained at a minimum cost by providing a pluralit of notches, as indicated at 9, in-the edges 0 the metallic portion 6 and filling these notches with cement to bond the scales directly to each other. The securing of the scales to the metal may be aided by applying a thin-coating of cement between the scales and the metal, but the most essential part of the process is the provision of the direct bonds along the edges of the handle where the notches are formed. It is preferred to form these notches at equal distances. along the edges of the metal, and the best results are obtained if the notches on one side are sta gered with relation to the notches on t e other side. 4

In manufacturing articles according to this process, the handle is preferably made slightly oversize and the edges ground ofl after the cementing operation is completed. The particular shape of the notches is not important, but they should be deep enough so that a substantial portion thereof will be left after the edges are ground down.

During the process as invented by me, as the cement dries, if there is any contraction thereof, it is in the plane of the metal rather than transversely thereto, so that no unsightly depressions are formed in the celluloid, and any irregularities left in the edge are subsequently taken ofi by the final grinding thereof. Moreover, if the'edges should be drawn inwardly a trifle toward each other notches on the opposite side, scales of nonmetalhc material cemented to opposite faces of saidhandle portion with cement substantially filling said notches and connecting the edges of the respective scales directly to each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

WILLARD V. HERSHEY.

While I have illustrated the invention only prising a strip of metal formed with notches in its edges, scales of non-metallic material cemented to opposite faces of said strip with cement substantially fillin said notches and directly connecting the edges of the respective scales to each other.

2. A device of the character described comprising a strip of bare metal with an integral extension constituting a handle portion, said handle portion being formed with notches in its edges, and scales of non-metallic material cemented to opposite faces of said handle portion, with cement substantially filling said notches and connecting the edges of the respective scales to each other.

3. A device of the character described comprising a strip of bare metal with'an integral extension constituting a handle portion, said handle portion being formed with notches in its edges, the notches on each side being spaced at substantially equal distances from each other and staggered with relation to the 

